Curtain-stretcher.



M. E. SHINN.

CURTAIN STRETGHER.

APPLIGATION FILED ocT.1o, 190s.

1,058,91 3.v Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

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MARTIN SHINN, QF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CURTAIN STRETCHER.

To all whom t may concern.' j

Be it known that I, MARTIN E. SHINN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Curtain-Stretchers, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in curtain stretchers in which heretofore the bars are provided with opposing grooves into which project legs from the curtain retaining pin devices, whereby the pins are nondetachable therefrom accidentally, and may be adjusted at' predetermined intervals on said bar, and in which said grooves converge outwardly toward-their bottom ends, so that there is formed between the grooves for the pins a seat which has a substantially sharp edge, not only correspondingly unstabled but prohibiting a frictional hold of the pins against their seat, sufficientto pre-` vent their accidental movement out of adjustment, especially when the frame is ever tilted or taken apart, and providinoV for the adjustment of the pins only by taking hold of their pointed prong, with the consequent liability of the operator to have his hands pricked by the pins and as frequently occurs in such structures.

The object of my invention is a curtain stretcher in which the curtain retaining pins are supported on and suspended from accidental detachment from a base, the pin supporting face of which is `substantially broad and flat, with its sides so formed that the retaining pins are not only prevented from accidental displacement therefrom, but that they may be prevented from accidental movement thereon by frictional engagement with the inner side faces of their support, which support provides for accessibility to the pin structure for its adjustment in the absence of any necessity for taking hold of their pointed prongs.

With these. ends in view, my invention finds embodiment in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said objects and certain other objects are hereinafter attained, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings,

Specification of Letters Patent. Application med october 1o, 190s.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913. Serial N o. 457,104.

i and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In said drawings: Figure 1 illustrates a top plan view of a curtain stretcher embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section of one of the bars thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof showing one of the retaining pins seated uponand locked against accidental detachment from its base support; and, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the curtain retaining pins detached from its bar.

Similar characters of'reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawing.

A indicates a curtain stretcher having the usual opposing side bars C, C, end bars D, D',v cross bar E, corner locking irons F, F, F, F, and locking devices G, G, which may be constructed and operated in the usual manner heretofore employed, and with the end and side barsfmade of any approved material. l

Extending longitudinally of and mounted upon a bar ofthe curtain stretcher, and preferably formed integral therewith, is a rail a, the face aof which is flat and broad, and its opposing side walls a2, a2, converging from the face of the rail toward the base thereof, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. In short, the rail in cross section is of a form providing for-the support of a curtain re.- taining pin structure, which, when in operative position on the rail, is held against detachment therefrom and tilting thereon, and for a frictional engagement of the pin structure simultaneously with both side walls of the rail, preventing their being accidentally moved along the rail from their adjusted position, and with the pointed prong of the pin in a direction tending to tighten the frictional hold of such structure upon the sides a2, a2 of the rail, and against a tilting movement with reference to the base supporting surface therefor of the rail.

As will be seen by reference toFig. 4, B indicates a curtain retaining pin structure, adapted for the purposes above described, and which, as above indicated, 'comprises a pointed prong Zi, supported from a clip composed of two end bars b, and side bars b3 and b5 in a plane below but parallel with the end bars, the side bars and end bars being connected by legs b2, 54, which, at the befbent toboth a locking; and frictional contact with the sides of the rail. The curtain retainingvpin"structure may be formed from any material adapted for fits. purpose, 1 4but` isl preferably constructed from a single piece of bent wire, theextreme "portionof the -lower ends-of whichrmay be -bent .upf to; form va non-detachable leg,r but vit willibe no substantial#l departurefrom -iny invention to have suchfleg secured'n any manner desirableifto 1the body ofthe wire from whichit is bent. v As ai means' bywhich @the 'pin' structure yor any number of th'ein"=mayfbe movedbe-j neathlV aV bar directly over another vbar upon which it `is mounted,l Iv have 'illustrated' my cinvention, as 'will' be*r seen, by-reference to FigB, in `connection with a' bar ein which jit has been the practice to cut away "the inner `upper -1 edge thereofl for that purpose,- the cut beingso formed as to" retain as much of the bar as' possibleIk for strengthening purposes, and byreason of this; producing `the limpressionvat a Casual glancet thatfgrooves are necessary for sustaining` thev curtain retaining pins upon'the bar, but which is not true, for obviously the walls of the barsdirectly oppose the legs o-f the pin -structure and the side walls of the rail perform no function tending to maintain the pin structure upon the rail, or any frictional contact resisting their accidental movement along the rail, and that it is equally obvious that `the rail will sustain and maintain the pin structure above described even though it were'mounted upon the top face thereof, and furthermore that even if theface ofthe rail be horizontal instead of inclined,1'the maintaining of the same line ofstrain of the curtain upon lthe `pins (shown "ini Fig.Y 3) may be provided for by shifting the vangle of the pointed prong-vof the pinby lbendingit accordingly.

In the use of'my invention the Ibars of the curtain stretcher-are provided withthe necessary number of' pins forthe perfect stretching of' the dargest size curtain for which; theA frame fof'thei stretcher -is made, and the 'pins lare adjusted and 4properly spacedby pushingagainst one or the other .ofthe end bars'r Zi, Vor taking a hold of both k,with the finger and thumb by the operator standingvbeyond the frame, and for which purpose it will be seen that fr'ee access may ufbe' hadto these end bars without any necessity for the fingers or hand of the operator coming in contact with any'portioniof the pointedprorig of the curtain retaining device. `."VVhenthis adjustment of the pin retaining device is once made for several curtains of the sa1ne"diinensioiis,"itwillbe found that if' the pinstructure is vmadeand fitted to itsrail'with-ordinary ycare and'slill, *itwill notbeaccidentally'inoved out of its adjustmenti either "when yengagingfor disen- "gaging a' 'curtain therefromgfirst because of 2the 'bro'atiiatsurface l"support" afforded" for the i 4pin structure and their i frictional 4resistance upon 1'the'sides of the rail against their movement thereon; and Asecondl because the Vvpins are locked at" one ACorner of` a rec- -tang'ular sustaining structure,with there- L suit' that blows and strains directly laterallyagainst the pinsiwill tend to tightenits f frame upon the' rail.

VHaving described my inventionfwhat I "claimland rdesire to secure -by Letters Pat- `lent is :w

"1.' The VVAcombination 'with 1 a "curtain fstretcherbar, ofa 'rail' rmounted l'thereon having a flat surface and sides converging to thevbasev thereof, a -curtain retaining-pill structure of'wirefse'atedon and suspended 'from theface ofthe rail and provided with opposing prongs' bothl of"whi'ch' -terminate above the base of the rail and converge at an angle corresponding with and ein racing both sides of the-rail,' substantially fas' described.

2. The -combination with -a curtain stretchery bar, yof a' rail mounted thereon provided with a flat surface, 'side walls lconverging from said surface to the base -off' the *'rail, `a'cuitain retaining pinl structure, the'base'portion offwhich is substantially rectangular in form,1 seated uponx and suspendedfrom-said rail, and the pointed prongr of rwhichr projects therefrom at or lnear one ofthe `corners of saidbase? frame,

substantially as Iand for the purpose-described i i MARTIN E. SHINN.

` Witnesses f C. IinI-IYDE,

L'JULIA C.l Looiiris.

Copies of this patent Vmay be `obtained for five cents each, by addressngthe Commissioner .of Patents,

`..Wash11gtonA D. C. 

